9 new restaurants that have opened so far in 2024, from Tacoma to Lakewood to Puyallup
The South Sound wine scene continues its ascent as several new destinations for sipping and stocking have opened in recent weeks. A bakery has moved, a modern Thai restaurant has arrived in Lakewood, and Parkland has a new-but-old sushi spot.
In Puyallup, enjoy a coffee or a quiche surrounded by lush greenery inside a longtime local nursery.
Earlier this year, the area welcomed another choice for carbon-style Mexican, fast-casual Mediterranean, a distillery tasting room and a nonalcoholic haven.
Here’s a look at recently opened restaurants in and around Tacoma.
VALLEY SOCIAL WINE BAR (& GELATO SHOP)
▪ 909 Main St., Sumner, 253-447-8315, valleysocialwine.com
▪ Open Wednesday-Thursday 1-8 p.m., Friday-Saturday noon-9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sumner had neither a wine bar nor a dedicated ice cream shop, but now it has both in one place. Valley Social originally opened in 2022, mere weeks before a fire destroyed the neighboring building. More than a year later, it has returned, and owners Melinda Jobst and Shawn Harris are more than ready to welcome guests for flights, glass pours or bottle shares from their eclectic wine list. Nibble on light bites like lavender-goat cheese fondue and crostini with brie, fig and prosciutto. While the bar is 21-and-up, kids are welcome around the gelato window, which you can access through the main room or a separate door in the back. Rotating flavors currently include pistachio and crème bruleé.
GIG HARBOR WINE CO.
▪ 6745 Kimball Drive, Gig Harbor, 253-509-0327, gigharborwineco.com
▪ Open Monday 4-8 p.m. and Thursday-Sunday noon-8 p.m.
Washington wineries have increasingly been setting their sights on the South Sound. Gig Harbor Wine Co. is a new homegrown tasting room from locals Ben and Robin Egeland. They have been teasing their Kimball Drive tasting room for months now, meanwhile developing a presence through community events and a wine club that’s already up and running. Under winemaker Aryn Morell, who also works with wineries including Mullan Road Cellars and Alleromb, selections highlight Eastern Washington AVAs, while their names honor Gig Harbor, such as Sturdy Gertie the cab and Netshed red the blend. The bar opened March 9, just down the street from Wet Coast Brewing Co.
OLD TIMES BAKERY
▪ 5502 Orchard St. W, University Place, 253-302-3353, facebook.com
▪ Open Monday-Saturday at 8 a.m.
Pastry fiends might recognize the name of this bakery from the crest of Pacific Avenue at South 34th Street. The original location closed last year, but as of February, owner Cris Arrecha operates in much bigger digs in University Place (located in the same plaza as Antojo Mexican Grill and Pizza Pizzaz, formerly Steph’s Pizza). The case offers a mix of Eastern European baked goods like piroshky and Southern American specialties, including dulce de leche-filled alfajores and a puffed pastry stuffed with sweet cheese and guava. You’ll also find an array of cookies, cinnamon rolls, cakes by the slice and whole (pre-order recommended), as well as rectangular sheet-pan pizzas. Grab an espresso and a seat in the low-key dining area.
ROLLS TACOMA
▪ 759 S 64th St., Tacoma, 253-449-0700, rollstacoma.com
▪ Open Thursday-Tuesday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (closed Wednesday).
Tacoma’s South End wins big with the opening of Rolls, a casual restaurant from the Ko Sisters, who made a name for themselves in Portland’s dense food truck scene. At their first brick-and-mortar, as the name implies, they focus on burritos stuffed with Korean specialties like beef or pork bulgogi. Meats, which also include chicken, shrimp and tofu, are also available in bowl form, over rice. The rest of the menu features Korean snacks like kimbap and kimchi dumplings, plus fried chicken.
BLOOM THAI
▪ 7402 Custer Road, Lakewood, bloomthaicuisine.com
▪ Open Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday noon-8 p.m.
After a few years cooking around Seattle at pop-ups and markets, Bloom Thai Cuisine found a brick-and-mortar in Lakewood, tucked in the plaza behind Gravity Coffee. The owner and chef, who goes by Mama Blue, offers a modern menu of Thai dishes that, at first taste, stand out from much of the local competition. Pork belly plays a central role — try it in the pad see-ew made with udon instead of traditional rice noodles. Shrimp wontons in an unctuous tom yum sauce with a soft-boiled egg, super crunchy Bangkok garlic chicken and red curry are also on deck. Though you order and pay at the little kitchen window, designed to emulate neighborhood restaurants in Thailand, staff will deliver food to your table (if you can snag one of the few!) and attend throughout your visit. Takeout and online ordering also available.
KAMEI SUSHI
▪ 10435 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-301-2484
▪ Open Tuesday-Sunday for lunch 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 4:30-8:30 p.m. for dinner.
Beloved in West Seattle for two decades, Kamei Sushi was forced to close in 2022 as its lot made way for a new development. Their loss is our gain: It took another couple of years, but the owners resurfaced in Tacoma’s Parkland neighborhood in February, taking over Thuy’s Pho space just north of Route 512. Fans of the original lauded the restaurant’s tempura, yakisoba, a “secret” salad dressing and, of course, the fresh fish. Sushi leans toward simple, classic preparations, but the broad menu also offers teriyaki, sukiyaki, donburi and various bento boxes.
PUGET SOUND PIZZA
▪ 12924 Pacific Hwy SW, Lakewood, 253-503-3148, pugetsoundpizza.com
▪ Open daily 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Established in 2004, Puget Sound Pizza continues to sling pies, calzones and sandwiches in downtown Tacoma, but owner Cory Cannell, who took over in 2016, recently pulled the plug on his young Spanaway outpost. Velvet’s Big Easy, a Cajun and Creole food truck, will replace it. Meanwhile, Cannell announced last summer that PSP had purchased the decades-old Pizza Casa in Lakewood. The interior has been updated, painted and generally modernized. The expansive menu mirrors the original, with hand-tossed pies, a pan version, pasta, subs, salads and more. If you dine-in, there’s a full bar; takeout and delivery are also available.
TERRACE AT WATSON’S
▪ 6211 Pioneer Way E (inside Watson’s Greenhouse & Nursery), Puyallup, 253-251-2527, terraceatwatsons.com
▪ Coffee and pastry service open Tuesday-Saturday at 9 a.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m. Lunch available Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
What better aura for a daytime cafe than one surrounded by plants? Watson’s, celebrating 40 years in business, opened its Terrace Cafe in late January. In addition to espresso drinks, guests can also sip on a short but thoughtful selection of wine and beer. On the sweet side, pair with homemade cookies, seasonal ice cream or sticky toffee pudding. The French-leaning menu features snacks like marinated olives, spiced goat cheese with sesame crackers, and focaccia with burrata. For lunch-lunch, there’s a daily quiche, roast chicken, mussels, Nicoise salad, French onion soup, and sandwiches including a veggie pesto and an open-faced croque monsieur.
BOBAHOLIC - WATERFRONT MARKET
▪ 5101 Yacht Club Road (inside Waterfront Market), Ruston, bobaholiccafe.com
▪ Currently open Friday-Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
This roving bubble tea shop has found a home at the Waterfront Market, in the anchor unit that originally was Only Oat Cookies. Specialties include a blended, smoothie-like drink in flavors like Tareo (taro and Oreo), Dirty Coconut (coconut and Vietnamese coffee) and Lychee-Licious. In addition to various coffees, milk teas feature everything from the classic brown sugar to honeydew. The shop also serves the popular croffle, a croissant-waffle mashup, with toppings such as matcha-Oreo and banana-Nutella.
This story was originally published March 19, 2024 at 5:00 AM.